Cork TD urges end to visitor restrictions at maternity hospitals
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire says he was forced to wait outside CUMH while his partner attended an emergency appointment
The words of Cork TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire who today urged the Minister for Health to end visiting restrictions in maternity units.
Deputy Ó Laoghaire told the Dáil that he was forced to wait outside Cork University Maternity Hospital while his partner Eimear attended an emergency appointment at the Early Pregnancy Unit before Christmas.
The Sinn Féin TD accused the Health Minister of dragging his heels over the issue and says the World Health Organisation and the Chief Medical Officer have called for the restrictions to be dropped.
Partners are allowed to attend the 20 week scan and can join a woman when she is in labour or called for a caesarean section at CUMH.
One person at a time can visit the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, while no one can accompany a woman attending an outpatient appointment.
Donnchadh Ó Laoighaire says there's no justification for the restrictions as partners from the same household pose the same Covid risk as the women they're accompanying:
Many women in the last year have received devastating news alone & been denied partner support in labour & birth
— Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (@Donnchadhol) June 2, 2021
I've been the partner waiting in the carpark, looking up at hospital window while she sat inside scared &alone
The harsh restrictions must go. #WhoseNeedsAreBeingMet pic.twitter.com/Qs1bZrISd2
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